Paper cup handle



1959 F. E. JONES 2,868,434

PAPER CUP HANDLE Filed Aug. 23, 1957 INVENTOR. Togesr E. JONE$ ATTOFZMEY-S United States PatentO PAPER CUP HANDLE Forest E. Jones, Alliance, Ohio Application August 23, 1957, Serial No. 679,905 6 Claims. c1. 229-42 This invention relates to a detachable handle for disposable paper cups.

Handles for paper cups, attached to their associated cups, are of course well known in and of themselves. However, difficulty has been experienced, with respect to providing handles on paper cups used in hot drink vending machines. In such machines, the paper cups are individually dispensed, by a dispensing mechanism, and it has been found that a handle attached to a paper cup that passes through such mechanism sometimes tends to jam the mechanism. As a result, the cup cannot be dispensed, and the machine is placed out of service.

In view of the difliculties that have been experienced, it is proposed, in carrying out the present invention, to provide a foldable handle for paper cups which will be so designed as to be normally folded into the recessed bottom of the cup, so that it will not change the shape of the cup in any way, and will not in any way interfere with the use of the cup in the vending machine.

Another object is to provide a handle as described which will be folded in a manner such that it will have a particularly great amount of strength when in use, and in addition will be shaped to permit one to obtain a good grip thereon.

Yet another object is to provide a handle of the character stated which will be swiftly adjustable to its use position from its normal, folded position.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a paper cup equipped with a handle according to the present invention, the handle being unfolded and ready for use;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the cup with the handle folded;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the handle is formed.

Referring to the drawings in detail, designed general at is a paper cup, having the usual upwardly flaring or frustoconical side wall 12 and the flat, circular bottom 14. Bottom 14 has a depending, continuous, peripheral flange 16, sealably, permanently engaged in the inwardly and upwardly directed circumferential bottom flange 18 of side wall 12. As a result, a bottom bead is provided upon the paper cup, with the bottom 14 being recessed,

that is, the bottom 14 is spaced upwardly from the lower extremity of the cup, forming a downwardly opening bottom recess 19 in the cup (see Figures 3 and 4).

At its upper end, the side wall 12 is rolled outwardly to provide a circumferential upper bead 20 on the cup,

reinforcing the same at the top and eliminating sharp edges on the top of the cup.

All this is conventional construction, in and of itself,

and is the construction found in a typical, commercially ice Designated generally at 22 is the handle constituting the present invention. This is secured to the cup at the time of manufacture of the cup, so as to be permanently associated with and subsequently disposed of with the paper cup.

Handles for paper cups have heretofore presented difliculties, particularly when the cup must be ejected by a suitable dispensing machine. As seen in Figures 3 and 4, handle 22 is normally in a folded, flat condition in which it is disposed entirely within recess 19 and does not project to any extent whatever from said recess. Therefore the handle will not interfere with dispensing of the cup, and will not, in fact, interfere with stacking of the cup with other similar cups. Nevertheless, the handle is swiftly available when the cup is placed in use following dispensing thereof and filling the same with liquid.

6 Considering the particular construction of the handle 22, as shown in Figure 5, this is formed from a single piece or blank of cardboard material. The blank is comparatively elongated, being progressively increased in width toward its midlength location. At one end, the blank has relatively narrow attaching tongue 24, formed with two closely spaced, transversely extending fold lines 26, 28 intermediate its ends, said tongue being integrally connected at the location of a transverse fold line 30, to the body 31 of the handle.

By means of adhesive 29 (Figure 4) the tongue 24 is secured to the underside of the bottom 14, adjacent the bottom bead 27 defined by the interengaging flanges 16, 18.

Referring to Figure 5, body 31 is progressively increased in width in a direction from the tongue 24 toward the midlength area of said body. Extending longitudinally and centrally of the body is a relatively narrow web or back portion 32, constant in Width from end to end of the body, and formed as an extension of the tongue 24. The back portion 32 is defined by parallel, longitudinal fold lines 34 disposedsymmetrically in respect to and spaced equidistantly from the longitudinal median of body 31, at opposite sides of said longitudinal median.

Substantially medially between its ends, the web portion 32 has a transverse fold line 36.

At opposite sides of the web portion 32, there are side walls 38 of the handle. These are symmetrically formed in respect to each other, said side walls extending the full length of the body and being progressively increased in width in a direction from the opposite extremities of the body toward the midlength location of the body. At said midlength locations the side walls 38 are formed, in their outer edges, with deep, semicircular recesses 40 which align transversely of the handle when the handle is in use, as shown in Figure 1. The fold line 36 terminates at the opposite ends medially between the ends of the recesses 40, and at opposite sides of said fold lines 36 there are provided fold lines 41, extending laterally outwardly from'the web portion 32, there being a pair of fold lines 41 at each side of the Web with the fold lines of the pair diverging in a direction laterally outwardly from the Web portion, symmetrically in respect to and at opposite sides of the fold line36. i

This defines small, triangular portions 42 that fold outwardly when the handle is in use as clearly shown in Figure 1 to provide fold relief for the handle that willpermit the handle to fold along the line 36 to impart to the web portion a humped construction. In other words, the handle is so designed that when in use it is increased progressively in depth from the opposite ends of the handle toward its midlength area. The recesses ,40form finger holes, as will be understood.

At its upper end the body 38 is formed with outwardly projecting, downwardly opening hooks 4'4 defining narrow, angular recesses 46, in7which the bead 20 is engaged. The beadisforcedinto the recesses 46, to an extent suf- -'ficienttocreate a slight. springacti'on in the wall 1'2,'tending to snap the bead into place within the grooves or recesses 46 andthereby insuring a firm engagement of the handle with the bead at the upper end of the cup. The j-handle at its upper. end, has a small tab 48 which facilitates pulling of'the handle from its folded, Figure 4 position to its unfolded Figure 2 position. In use, thehandleis initi ally folded flat asin Figures 3 and 4, against the bottom of the cup. The handle will be folded along the line 36, and along the line 26. The body is folded upon itself and is completely fiat as shown in Figure 3.

When the handle is to be used, one pulls downwardly on the ;tab 48, and swings the handle to its Figure 2 position. The handle hinges on the fold line 26, and on the line 36, and folds about the bottom bead along the lines 28, 30 (see Figure 2). When the handle is folded up to its use position, one bends the side Walls 38 inwardly along the lines 34, so that the side walls lie in or substantially in parallel planes. The fold relief portions are folded outwardly as in Figure 1, to permit the handle to assume its full use position. Bead 20 is then snapped with hook 44. The handle may now be grasped, for the purpose of permitting pouring of the contents of the cup, and of course, the handle is disposed of with the cup following exhaustion of the contents.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims. What is claimed is:

1. The combination, with a paper cup including a side wall and a bottom wall, said cup having a downwardly opening recess below the bottom wall, of a handle having a lower end connected to the bottom wall and having an upper end formed with downwardly opening hook means proportioned for hooking over the upper edge of "the cup, said handle having a plurality of transverse fold lines intermediate its ends, the handle being folded flatly upon itself against said bottom wall fully within the recess while awaiting use.

2. The combination, with a paper cup including a side wall, a bottom wall, and a circumferential, depending bead extending about the bottom wall and cooperating therewith to form a downwardly opening bottom recess in the cup, of a handle formed wholly of a stiff, foldable material, the handle having a lower end permanently con nected to the bottom wall and having an upper end formed with downwardly opening hook means proportioned for hooking over the upper edge of the cup, said handle having a first transverse foldline adjacent its connection to the bottom wall disposed for unfolding of the handle to the position extending around said bead and up the side wall, in which position the hook means is disposed for engaging said upper edge of the cup, the handle having at least one additional transverse fold line spaced longitudinally thereof from the first fold line, along which fold lines the handle is folded flatly upon itself against 'said bottom wall wholly within the recess while awaiting use.

3. The combination, wall, a bottom wall, and

with a paper cup including a side a circumferential, depending bead extending about the bottom wall and cooperating therewith to form a downwardly opening bottom recess in the cup, of a handle formed wholly of a stiff, foldable materiah'the handle having a lower end permanently connected to the bottom wall and having an upper end formed with downwardly opening hook means proportioned for hooking over the upper edge ofthe cup, said handle having a first transverse fold line adjacent its connection tothe bottom wall disposed for unfolding of the handle to a position extending around said head and up the side wall, in which position the hook means is disposed for engaging said upper edge of the cup, the handle having at least one additional transverse fold line spaced longitudinally thereof from the first fold line along which fold lines the handle is folded'fiatly upon itself against said bottom wall wholly within the recess while awaiting use, said handle having a pair of longitudinal fold lines disposed symmetrically in respect to and opposite sides of the longitudinal median line of the handle, whereby to permit folding of the handle into a channel shape when the handle is unfolded and is extended up the side wall.

4. The combination, with a paper cup including a side wall a bottom wall, the circumferential, depending bead extending about the bottom wall and cooperating therewith to form a downwardly opening bottom recess in the cup, of a handle formed wholly of a stiff foldable material, the handle having a lower end permanently connected to the bottom wall and having an upper end formed with downwardly opening hook means proportioned for hooking over the upper edge of the cup, said handle having a first transverse fold line adjacent its connection to the bottom wall disposed for unfolding of the handle to a position extending around said bead and up the side wall, in which position the hook means is disposed for engaging said upper edge of the cup, the handle having at least one additional transverse fold line spaced longitudinally thereof from the first fold line along which fold lines the handle is folded flatly upon itself against said bottom wail wholly within the recess while awaiting use, said handle having a pair of longitudinal fold lines disposed symmetrically in respect to and at opposite sides of the longitudinal median line of the handle, whereby to permit folding of the handle into a channel shape when the handle is unfolded and is extended up'the side wall, the handle, in its unfolded condition, being partially folded along the second named transverse fold line, whereby to impart a humped formation to the handle when the handle is in use.

5. The combination, with a paper cup including a side wall, a bottom wall, and'a circumferential, depending bead. extending about the bottom wall and cooperating therewith to form a downwardly opening bottom recess in the cup, of a handle formed wholly of a stiff foldable material, the handle having a lower end permanently connected to the bottom wall and having an upper end formed with downwardly opening hook means proportioned for hooking over the upper edge of the cup, said handle having a first transverse fold line adjacent its connection to the bottom wall disposed for unfolding of the handle to a position extending around said bead and up the side wall, in which position the hook means is disposed for engaging said upper edge of the cup, the handle having at least one additional transverse fold line spaced longitudinally thereof from the first fold linealong which fold lines the handle is folded flatly upon itself against said bottom wall wholly within the recess while awaiting use, said handle having a pair of longitudinal fold lines disposed symmetrically in respect 'to and at opposite sides of the longitudinal median line of the handle, whereby to permit folding of the handle into a channel shape when the handle is unfolded and is extended up the side wall, the handle, in its unfolded condition, being partially folded along the second named transverse fold line, whereby to impart a'humped formation to the handle when the handle is in use, said handle having fold relief portions at opposite sides of said additional transverse fold lines, the channel shape of the handle providing side walls thereon with the fold relief portions being provided within said side walls.

means 4.

6. The combination with a paper cup including a side wall, a bottom wall, and a circumferential, depending bead extending about the bottom wall and cooperating therewith to form a downwardly opening bottom recess in the cup, of a handle formed wholly of a stiff foldable material, the handle having a lower end permanently connected to the bottom wall and having an upper end formed with downwardly opening hook means proportioned for hooking over the upper edge of the cup, said handle having a first transverse fold line adjacent its connection to the bottom wall disposed for unfolding of the handle to a position extending around said bead and up the side wall, in which position the hook means is disposed for engaging said upper edge of the cup, the handle having at least one additional transverse fold line spaced longitudinally thereof from the first fold line along which fold lines the handle is folded flatly upon itself against said bottom wall wholly within the recess while awaiting use, said handle having a pair of longitudinal fold lines disposed symmetrically in respect to and at opposite sides of 20 2,306,168

the longitudinal median line of the handle, whereby to permit folding of the handle into a channel shape when the handle is unfolded and is extended up the side wall, the handle, in its unfolded condition, being partially folded along the second named transverse fold line, whereby to impart a humped formation to the handle when the handle is in use, said handle having fold relief portions at opposite sides of said additional transverse fold lines, the channel shape of the handle providing side walls thereon with the fold relief portions being provided within said side walls, said walls having finger holes adjacent the fold relief portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,029,429 Koons Feb. 4, 1936 2,102,510 Cecil Dec. 14, 1937 2,128,466 Machotka Aug. 30, 1938 Jopson Dec. 22, 1942 

